Begonia plant named &#39;Bkpbecrm&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Begonia  plant named ‘BKPBECRM’, characterized by its broadly upright to outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; sturdy plants with freely basal branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; uniform and freely flowering habit; and single-type female flowers and fully double male flowers that are dark red in color.

Botanical designation: Begonia×hiemalis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BKPBECRM’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Begonia Plant Named ‘BKPBECLR’

Applicant: Annie Cornelia Beekenkamp

Filed: Concurrently with the instant application

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begoniaplant, botanically known as Begonia×hiemalis, commercially referred toas Elatior Begonia and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘BKPBECRM’.

The new Begonia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program was to develop new freely branching and freelyflowering Begonia plants with attractive flowers.

The new Begonia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in March, 2013 of a proprietary selection of Begonia×hiemalisidentified as code number 6900484, not patented, as the female, or seed,parent with a proprietary selection of Begonia×hiemalis identified ascode number 6500604, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. Thenew Begonia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as asingle flowering plant from within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk,The Netherlands in November, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia plant by vegetative tip cuttingsin a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlandssince February, 2014 has shown that the unique features of this newBegonia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Begonia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘BKPBECRM’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘BKPBECRM’ as a new and distinct Begonia plant:

-   -   1. Broadly upright to outwardly spreading and mounded plant        habit.    -   2. Sturdy plants with freely basal branching habit.    -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   4. Uniform and freely flowering habit.    -   5. Single-type female flowers and fully double male flowers that        are dark red in color.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the female parentselection. Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of thefemale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia and the female parent selection        differ in leaf texture as plants of the female parent selection        have pubescent leaves.    -   2. Plants of the new Begonia and the female parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection        have orange yellow-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of themale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia and the male parent selection        differ in flower form as plants of the male parent selection        only have single-type flowers.    -   2. Plants of the new Begonia and the male parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection        have pale pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of theBegonia×hiemalis ‘BKPBECLR’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant patentapplication filed concurrently. Plants of the new Begonia differ fromplants of ‘BKPBECLR’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia are shorter than plants of        ‘BKPBECLR’.    -   2. Plants of the new Begonia and ‘BKPBECLR’ differ in leaf color        as plants of ‘BKPBECLR’ have very dark-colored leaves.    -   3. Male flowers of plants of the new Begonia have more tepaloids        than male flowers of plants of ‘BKPBECLR’.

Plants of the new Begonia can also be compared to plants of theBegonia×hiemalis ‘Baladin’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons,plants of the new Begonia differ from plants of ‘Baladin’ in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia are more vigorous than plants of        ‘Baladin’.    -   2. Plants of the new Begonia are more freely branching than        plants of ‘Baladin’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Begonia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Begonia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘BKPBECRM’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet are close-up views of upper and lowersurfaces of typical fully developed male flowers and leaves of‘BKPBECRM’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used for the aforementioned photographs and followingobservations and measurements were grown during the winter in 12-cmcontainers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands.During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures rangedfrom 19° to 21° C. Plants were ten weeks old when the photographs andthe description were taken. In the following description, colorreferences are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart,2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia×hiemalis ‘BKPBECRM’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Begonia×hiemalis identified as code number 6900484, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Begonia×hiemalis identified as code number 6500604, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative tip cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About 20 days at temperatures about            25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About 35 to 36 days at            temperatures about 21° C. to 23° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically brown in color,            actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,            substrate temperature and physiological age of roots; plants            of the new Begonia have not been observed to form tubers.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching habit; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Broadly upright to outwardly            spreading and mounded plant habit; plant shape flattened            globular; moderately vigorous growth habit; moderate growth            rate.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 18.7            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 20.4            cm.        -   Plant width.—About 35.1 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Branching habit: Freely            branching habit with about four basal branches developing            per plant; each basal branch with about three lateral            branches; pinching is not required. Length: About 12.3 cm.            Diameter: About 9 mm. Internode length: About 2.1 cm.            Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 35° from            vertical. Texture and luster: Sparsely pubescent; glossy.            Color, developing: Close to 170A. Color, fully developed:            Close to 152A.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:            About 12.6 cm. Width: About 9.7 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex:            Acute. Base: Oblique, moderately imbricate. Margin: Crenate            to serrulate; strongly undulate. Texture and luster, upper            surface: Glabrous; slightly velvety; moderately glossy.            Texture and luster, lower surface: Sparsely pubescent along            veins; moderately glossy. Venation pattern: Laciniate.            Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: Darker than between            NN137A and 147A; narrow margin, close to 183A. Developing            leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; narrow margin, close            to 183A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker than            between 147A and N189A; narrow margin, close to 178B;            venation, close to 144A. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to 148B; narrow margin, close to 178B;            venation, close to 144A. Petioles: Length: About 5.2 cm.            Diameter: About 5 mm. Texture and luster, upper and lower            surfaces: Moderately pubescent; moderately glossy. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 166B; distally, close to            181A to 181B. Stipules: Quantity per leaf: Two. Length:            About 1.1 cm. Width: About 1.3 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate.            Apex: Obtuse. Base: Broadly cuneate. Margins: Entire. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144C; towards the            margins, tinged with close to 180C to 180D.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—Rotate single-type female flowers and fully            double male flowers arranged in axillary compound cymes;            freely flowering habit with about four flowers per cyme and            about 140 flowers developing per plant; flowers face upright            to outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period, plants            flower freely and continuously from spring into the autumn            in The Netherlands; during the winter in a greenhouse,            plants begin flowering about 46 days after exposure to            photoinductive treatments.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Individual flowers last about ten            days on the plant; flowers not persistent; plants maintain            good substance for about 20 to 30 days in an interior            environment.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 6.3 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 8.1 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.1 cm. Diameter, flattened:            About 2 cm. Shape: Broadly obovate to roughly circular;            flattened. Texture and luster: Glabrous, velvety; very            slightly glossy. Color: Close to 42B to 42C.        -   Female flowers.—Diameter: About 5.1 cm. Depth: About 2.6 cm.            Tepals: Quantity and arrangement: Five per flower, arranged            in two whorls. Length: About 3.4 cm, Width: About 3.5 cm.            Shape: Broadly obovate to roughly reniform. Apex: Rounded.            Base: Reniform. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper            surface: Glabrous; velvety; matte. Texture and luster, lower            surface: Glabrous; moderately velvety; matte to slightly            glossy. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to N45A.            When opening, lower surface: Close to between 42A to 45A.            Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 45B; color does not            fade with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to            45A; color does not fade with development. Tepaloids: None            observed on female flowers.        -   Male flowers.—Diameter: About 5.1 cm. Depth: About 2.6 cm.            Tepals: Quantity and arrangement: Two per flower, opposite.            Length: About 3.4 cm. Width: About 3.5 cm. Shape: Broadly            obovate to roughly reniform. Apex: Rounded. Base: Reniform.            Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Glabrous;            velvety; matte. Texture and luster, lower surface: Glabrous;            moderately velvety; matte to slightly glossy. Color: When            opening, upper surface: Close to N45A. When opening, lower            surface: Close to between 42A and 45A. Fully opened, upper            surface: Close to 45B; color does not fade with development.            Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 45A; color does not            fade with development. Tepaloids: Quantity and arrangement:            About 30 per flower, arranged in multiple whorls at the            center of the flower. Length: Variable, about 1.1 cm to            2.4 cm. Width: Variable, about 0.9 cm to 2.6 cm. Shape:            Broadly obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Broadly attenuate.            Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower            surfaces: Glabrous; velvety; matte. Color: When opening,            upper surface: Close to 45B. When opening, lower surface:            Close to 45A to 45B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to            45A; color does not fade with development. Fully opened,            lower surface: Close to 44A; color does not fade with            development.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4.5 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.            Angle: About 35° from lateral branch axis. Strength:            Moderately strong; flexible. Texture and luster: Glabrous;            moderately glossy. Color: Close to 166B to 166C tinged with            close to 152A.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Angle:            About 35° from the peduncle axis. Strength: Moderately            strong; flexible, bending with the weight of the flowers.            Texture and luster: Glabrous; glossy. Color: Close to 179A            to 179B.        -   Flower bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: Two per flower,            opposite. Length: About 1.8 cm. Width: About 1.9 cm. Shape:            Roughly reniform. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Reniform.            Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower            surfaces: Glabrous; matte. Color, upper and lower surfaces:            Close to 146C; towards the apex, close to 179B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: None observed on male flowers,            all structures transformed into tepaloids. Pistils: Present            only on female flowers. Quantity per flower: Three. Length:            About 7 mm, Style length: About 2 mm. Style color: Close to            150C to 150D. Stigma diameter: About 4.5 mm. Stigma shape:            Cleft. Stigma color: Close to 23A. Ovary color: Close to            179A. Seeds and fruits: Seed and fruit development have not            been observed on plants of the new Begonia.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common    to Begonia plants has not been observed on plants of the new    Begonia.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Begonia have been observed    to tolerate high temperatures of about 35° C. and to be suitable for    USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 12.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Begonia plant named ‘BKPBECRM’ asillustrated and described.